Muscle Pain Relief Methods
Finding effective muscle pain relief can be ultra important for getting out of bed with a smile on your face if you have muscle pain, also known as myalgia.
We at Voltaren understand that when we’re in pain, we have a way of retreating from our normal activities. In other words, our worlds get a little smaller. So, what can be done?
Muscle pain can affect adults and children alike, and can appear anywhere in the body, be it as shoulder pain, back pain, neck pain, or leg pain, etc. It is often caused by blunt trauma to the muscle (think banging your knee on the coffee table), a strain, overexertion (if you lifted something heavy and tweaked your back), or something more systemic like fever.1
- NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are suitable for relieving pain from injuries, such as muscle strains, sprains, or tears. Voltaren gels and tablets contain the NSAID, diclofenac, which will help get you back on the path to joyful movement. Because it’s not just movement, it’s connecting with the world around you and being truly present for the moments that matter.
- Paracetamol
Fever can be associated with muscle pain. That is why fever associated with colds and flu, for instance, causes aches and pain in your body. Paracetamol may be taken in order to lower your fever and manage the symptoms of cold and flu while your body recovers.
Non-medicinal relief methods for muscle pain
What about non-medicated options for relieving muscle pain? There are a number of effective methods that you may try on your own or in conjunction with medication in order to get some relief and get moving freely again.
The first thing to try if you have injured your shoulder (but you don't think it's bad enough to see a doctor or go to hospital), is RICE. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, elevation.
Rest
Rest is necessary for tissue repair. Continued weight bearing and movement can aggravate an already injured muscle. Get comfortable and... get ready to stay sitting or lying down for the first few days after a muscle sprain, strain or tear.
Ice
Cold can be helpful in reducing acute pain and inflammation in the first few days after an injury. Apply an ice pack or bag of ice to your sore muscle throughout the day. Never apply an ice pack directly to your skin. Instead, wrap it in a thin towel and then place it on your affected area.
Compression
Compression can help reduce swelling. Consider carefully wrapping your injured muscle with an elastic bandage. A word of caution – be sure not to wrap the bandage too tight or apply excessive compression, as this can interfere with blood circulation. That would be no good.
Elevation
Elevation also helps reduce swelling. Elevate your injured muscle while resting.
Other muscle pain relief methods include:
- Massage
Especially in the case of overexertion, massage can be helpful for releasing tight muscles and helping them relax. This can be particularly soothing in the case of neck pain, back pain, or shoulder pain. Added bonus: it’s a great way for you to kick back and get pampered for a bit.
- Mindfulness meditation
So much of pain is mental. Often the anxiety and obsessing over how much something hurts can intensify our perception of the pain. Staying in the moment with some meditation – concentrating on the here and now and not ruminating over the what-ifs of pain – can go a long way in putting pain in its place.
- Stretching
Keeping muscles stretched and limber can eliminate muscle pain caused by pulled, tight muscles as a result of overexertion.
- Heat
Heat can be used to relieve muscle pain (hello hot water bottle), and heat patches are a convenient way to get this on the go.
If you find you often have muscle pain in your lower back or in your neck you may find information in the Back Pain and Neck Pain sections helpful.
Health, wellness & your pain
Pain is rarely just physical nor is it always solved by taking medicine alone. Voltaren is your ally in helping you take more control of your pain journey, from the way you sleep, to what you eat, mental wellbeing and complementary pain relief therapies.
